Transmigrated as the Princess's Scummy Wife - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Coveting Her Beauty

“The Consort ordered the guards to investigate the stolen vegetables.”

Donghe expressed her confusion: “A-Xiang said she only stole the most inconspicuous one. Does the Consort have some kind of eagle eyes to notice that!?”

A playful smile played on Xuan Zhaoci’s lips. “Think again. Is there any other possibility?”

“What other possibility could there be? It’s clearly because the Consort treasures her vegetables so dearly that she’d notice even if one went missing,” Donghe grumbled. “She doesn’t seem to treasure Your Highness nearly as much…”

“You little brat.” Xuan Zhaoci bit her lip and shot her a soft glare.

Her amber eyes looked as if they had been soaked in water, shimmering with a moist, clear brilliance. The tips of her ears hidden beneath her dark hair were flushed a deep crimson; had Donghe not been kneeling right beside her, she might have missed that suggestive blush.

Beams of pale sunlight filtered through the window lattice, covering her in a thin layer of gold. The beauty possessed charm in both skin and bone a presence of peerless radiance. Even the cool fragrance in the main hall seemed to favor the beauty, circling around her as if infatuated.

“I once envied ordinary couples,” Xuan Zhaoci murmured. “Chatting during leisure, sharing burdens during busy times, a pair in perfect love. But…”

The sentence took a sharp turn as master and servant both recalled those first ten days of the marriage. In those days, had it not been for the sake of the “grand plan,” any one of them Donghe, Shadow, Xiao An, or A-Xiang could have easily killed the Consort, making the person who harmed Her Highness disappear without a sound.

Yet, before they could even seek revenge for Her Highness, the person changed. Like their mistress, they didn’t care how the change occurred or whether the person was a ghost; they only cared about how the Consort treated Her Highness. Currently, on the surface, things looked fine, but who could say if she had another side in private, just like the previous one?

Xuan Zhaoci’s worry stemmed from this. Even though this person appeared simple-minded and honest, once bitten by a snake, one fears a rope for ten years. Not to mention, this person was far too mysterious, always giving her a feeling that she couldn’t see through. She didn’t believe Nan Qing would treat her well for no reason.

But every time she felt Nan Qing was coveting her, she would also feel the other wasn’t truly coveting her, but rather using her to obtain something else. As an unfavored princess with nothing to her name, what was there to covet?

She couldn’t possibly be coveting this beauty, Xuan Zhaoci thought with a self-mocking smile. The Consort’s pitch-black eyes were too clear; to say she coveted her beauty seemed far too far-fetched.

“Your Highness! The Consort left this dog in my care before going out, saying that once Your Highness wakes up, it should be brought to you.”

A newcomer interrupted Xuan Zhaoci’s thoughts. Donghe took the puppy as the messenger continued: “The Consort said she washed the dog’s body last night and even rinsed its mouth. Before leaving, she specifically made two pairs of dog shoes. The dog’s paws are clean; Your Highness can hold the puppy directly after removing the shoes.”

The four little paws were indeed wrapped in cloth, but the sewing technique was frankly disastrous. Xuan Zhaoci laughed in spite of herself. “Donghe, go fetch the fabric and needlework kit.”

Little Nan Shi, shoes removed, was carefully placed into her lap. Xuan Zhaoci’s scallion-white fingertips stroked the tips of the puppy’s ears. Nan Shi, feeling comfortable, nuzzled its furry head against the beauty’s chest with milky, high-pitched whimpers.

Xuan Zhaoci chuckled softly. “A-Shi, why do you have the same skin tone as the Consort…?” This light, pleasant, and healthy wheat color was actually described as “soy sauce color” by Boss Qi of Tianxiang Pavilion. Thinking of this, she smiled. “If you could talk, you ought to call the Consort ‘Mother’.”

Nan Shi: “Ying.”

Donghe brought the needles and thread. While Xuan Zhaoci sewed dog shoes, Donghe went to the maids to learn how to raise the dog how to feed it, how to handle house training, and so on.

Xuan Zhaoci leaned sideways on the couch, her gaze focused and her fingers nimble, stitch by stitch. The wheat-colored puppy lay in the beauty’s embrace, its round eyes watching quietly, staying motionless as if afraid any movement might cause the needle to hurt the fragrant, soft person holding it.

Beauty and dog a scene of tranquil years.

Meanwhile, Nan Qing had replanted the vegetables in the field and repaired the mesh fence of the eight mu. Finally, she wore a satisfied smile.

Farming by day, selling shrimp by evening, and chatting with Xuan Zhaoci through the window at night while playing with the dog—two days passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, the day of the Peach Banquet arrived.

Nan Qing and Xuan Zhaoci had agreed to go separately. Nan Qing had to go early to handle the kitchen affairs, while Xuan Zhaoci could go after she woke up. When she received the note, Xuan Zhaoci had instinctively picked up her pen to write: No need, This Palace shall go with the Consort.

Before she could finish, Donghe tactfully reminded her to mind her health. Xuan Zhaoci froze. It had been nearly a month since she had seen Nan Qing or heard her voice. Her vomiting spells had subsided significantly, and since Nan Shi arrived, she hadn’t felt nauseous once.

Perhaps because Nan Shi slept in the Consort’s arms every night, the dog’s fur carried much of that person’s fragrance. Holding Nan Shi and smelling that scent, she didn’t feel disgusted. But in the end, it was that face and that voice she loathed; she didn’t dare gamble with her body. The paper saying “together” was discarded, replaced by: Fine, let it be as the Consort says.

Prince Yan’s Manor.

The morning light had not yet risen, and the stars were fading. The kitchen was a bustle of people, everyone looking tense. While Xuan Hengyan was still dreaming, her two wives had already risen. After washing and eating breakfast, they entered the kitchen.

“Sister.” Xu Shurong bowed, looking obedient and sweet with her eyes lowered. She was the second wife Xuan Hengyan had married. Although she held the same rank as Bai Xue both being Prince Yan’s Consorts Bai Xue had entered the manor first, had a superior family background, and was two years older. It was only right for Xu Shurong to call her “Sister.”

Bai Xue was like her name—standing straight as a pine or cypress, her temperament cold as frost and snow. She was the matriarch of Prince Yan’s manor. She glanced indifferently at Xu Shurong and retracted her gaze, a cold “mm” escaping her nose. The surroundings seemed to turn cold at her voice.

There had once been a widespread rumor in the capital that the Empress might marry Princess Qinghe to Bai Xue, the daughter of the Northwest General. In the eyes of the public, the two possessed identical cold and arrogant personalities; if they married, their combined coldness would have been quite the topic of conversation.

However, a few years ago, the Northwest suffered a famine, and the Huns moved south to plunder food. The Northwest General, once ignored, suddenly became the focus of the court. With such sudden popularity, it became impossible for the General’s daughter to marry an unfavored princess. Bai Xue eventually married the Second Princess, who had been promoted to Second Imperial Daughter and enfeoffed as Prince Yan.

“Why are you standing there in a daze?” Bai Xue asked coldly.

Caught daydreaming by the matriarch, Xu Shurong hurriedly looked up. “Your younger sister isn’t fully awake yet.”

“Go back and sleep for another hour.” Bai Xue left those words and walked away. Xu Shurong bit her lip and trotted to keep up. “Sister, I won’t be sleepy once I start working.”

“Your subject Nan Qing, pays respects to the Consorts of Prince Yan.”

Fortunately, Nan Qing added the plural at the last second. The two Consorts looked at her with cold expressions. They wore the same style of consort’s casual attire, though with different details. The midsummer clothes were thin, outlining their figures. Bai Xue looked somewhat thin, but judging by the cut of her clothes, she seemed to have used wide silhouettes and vertical dark patterns specifically to hide lean muscle.

Compared to Bai Xue, Xu Shurong was truly thin. Standing next to Bai Xue, she gave off a strange sense of being a “little bird clinging to a person.” These two were characters added to the plot after the system upgrade.

Nan Qing hadn’t expected her luck to be so good; as soon as she was brought into the kitchen, she heard their conversation and successfully distinguished who was Bai Xue and who was Xu Shurong. The system only said Bai Xue was cold, not that Xu Shurong was also this icy. At this moment, she felt like a target being pierced by ice arrows from both of them.

Nan Qing took a deep breath. “Where should I go now?”

“Qinghe Consort may rise. Follow me.”

As Bai Xue led the way, she caught a glimpse of the other consort’s attire from the corner of her eye and stopped. “Shurong, go to the cleaning station to supervise. There is no need to follow.”

“Sister…”

“A guest is present. Do not be willful.”

Xu Shurong lowered her eyes and obeyed, but gave Nan Qing a silent glare before turning away.

Nan Qing: “?” Does this person know the original owner? What a headache.

Bai Xue led her to the stove area. “My sister is immature. Please excuse her, Consort.”

Nan Qing actually laughed. “Haha.”

Bai Xue’s face darkened, her expression turning even colder.

Nan Qing: One shouldn’t be too abstract, or it’s easy to get on people’s nerves.

Fortunately, this sudden “abstract” burst of laughter helped her test the waters. She could basically confirm that this woman was not familiar with her and likely had no prior dealings. Soon, Nan Qing led the chefs and began to work. The kitchen became a hive of activity as the sky gradually lightened.

When the blazing sun hung high, Prince Yan’s manor was crowded with guests. The streets were packed with carriages and horses, creating a total gridlock. Xuan Hengyan and her two wives stood at the main gate to welcome guests. Many daughters of noble families arrived first; after greeting the Prince and her wives, they were led inside by maids.

The Second Imperial Daughter loved all kinds of peaches—honey peaches, flat peaches, yellow peaches, purple peaches, eagle-beak peaches, longevity peaches, nectarines… every variety in the empire could be found in the manor, with at least a hundred trees of each. Those who knew Xuan Hengyan’s style knew she especially favored honey peaches, for reasons one shouldn’t dwell on. The guests merely covered their mouths and chuckled, shaking their heads as they admired the fruits.

“Princess Qinghe has arrived!” the gatekeeper announced loudly.

Princess Qinghe, dressed in a pale pink palace gown, stepped down from her carriage. Her posture was elegant and her gaze cold, though her face held a trace of imperceptible paleness. Donghe supported her by her side.

“Your younger sister, Qinghe, greets Second Royal Sister and Second Sisters-in-law.” Xuan Zhaoci curtsied.

“Why is Fifth Sister wearing pale pink today?” Xuan Hengyan asked with a smile—a smile that was clearly malicious.

All eyes converged on Xuan Zhaoci. It was well known that this Fifth Princess only maintained the outward dignity of a royal through her clothing; in reality, she was a weakling who could be bullied even by her own Consort. The daughters of noble families were not as high-born as royals, but the backgrounds of their mothers were far stronger than that of Xuan Zhaoci’s guard mother. For those who were married, their wives were far superior to a farmer-born Consort.

The guests slowed their pace, pricking up their ears and widening their eyes, watching the show with great interest.

“My Consort also wore pink today,” Xuan Zhaoci replied softly.

Xuan Hengyan laughed innocently. “Oh? Then Qinghe and the Fifth Consort are truly a devoted couple. But the peaches in my manor are also this color. If you both wear this, won’t you… fade into a crowd of peaches?”

The crowd erupted in laughter.

Nan Qing: I’m going to get revenge on every single one of them furious.

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